Loading and wrapping means



1940- c. H. PETSKEYES EIAL 2,221,996

LOADING AND WRAPPING MEANS Filed Feb.. 2'7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Charles flPefsfie 9.9

and Israel 6. Oellmaru INVENTORS wi /w 3/1/4- N ATTORNEY.

Nov. 19, 1940. c. H. PETSKEYES ETAL LOADING AND WRAPPING MEANS Filed Feb. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Charles. HPeses and fsraeZ C Gellnzaw INVENTORS 7 676 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING AND WBAPPIN G MEANS Charles H. Petskeyes, Davenport, Iowa, and Israel C. Gellman. Rock Island, 11]., assignors to Gellman Manufacturing Company, Rock Island, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 27, 1939, Serial No. 258,673 12 Claims. (Cl. 93-2) This invention has as its principal object the wrapping is not to be construed as a limitation to provision of article loading and intial wrapping the field of application of the improvements.

mechanism for use in wrapping machines of gen- Generally speaking, the wrapping instrumeneral application and particularly bread wrapping talities of the machine include a vertically remachines. ciprocable article carrier and horizontally re- 5 In one of its novel aspects the invention prociprocable means for moving an article onto the vides a reciprocable loading table arranged for carrier in its lowered p si ion, t e er with cooperation with a vertically reciprocable artimeans for feeding and positioning a sheet of cle carrier or elevator in such manner that an Wrapp P p o as to ang at one side of the m article on the table will be automatically transa t e Car e n t e P o the t cle transl0 fen-ed onto the elevator when the latter is in a ferr d thereto, the wrapping Pap r r sheet eparticular position, ing anchored at one end so that the remaining In another of its novel aspects, the invention p rti s f th s et are pa tly draped or folded provides initial folding or wrapping means which about the article as the latter moves onto the 35 includes a vertically reciprocable elevator ar- Carrier, the mechanisms being timed for c p r- 15 ranged to enact with other wrapping instrumenation so that as 80011 as the article has been talities and a horizontally reciprocable article moved against the wrappin Paper and trans- .loading table arranged for coaction t t ferred onto the carrier, the latter will move upvator and with paper feeding means so that when Wardly d in doing o en age folding fingers the elevator is in lowered position a sheet of and end folding members W i h efi'eet'addition- 20 wrapping paper wj11 b suspended r draped a1 folds, the upward movement of the article caracross the path of an article moving onto the elelier being Such that the fixed a c o ed Porvator, and such article will be transferred auto- 1310115 oi the Wrapper are o al y folded matically from th table i t t paper and about the article until the carrier reaches its uponto the elevator to effect a partial enfoldment st p sit o at which t e t article i 25 of the wrapper about the article, the elevator stantially Wrapped save for o twa d y p othereafter beginning its upward movement to iecting tails of the Wrapper at opposite ends of further f ld th wrapper in cooperation t the article, the article thereafter being autoother wrapping instrumentalitiee matically removed from the article carrier and Other objects and novel aspects of the invenpassed between terminal end fold platesof 30 tion relate to certain details of construction, ar- Proved construction which complete the folding rengemem of t timing and mode of opera and also cooperate in sealing the wrapper.

tion of the mechanisms representing the pre- Referring t the p e red embodiment ierred embodiment described hereinafter in view fi machme includes a frame v g a eof t annexed drawings, in which; ceivmg table I I mounted on strap means H at 35 Fig 1 is a perspective View f a wrapping one sideof the machine and adaptedto receive chine looking toward the loading and initial an article such as a loaf of bread which is to be wrapping mechanism; I wrapped, such articles being placed on the table Fig 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the manually or fed thereto by suitable mechanism loading and initial wrapping means viewed in the Shown A loading table generally direction of line of Fig 1 and drawn to dicated at I 3 1s mountedfor reciprocation from larged scale; ahnori'zmal gosittionf fifngsidein the receiving table H I 318 a fra mentar v i in 0 an on o e mac ne opposite an arthe inachine i the gg g gfi g ig g t1cle carrier or elevator M (Fig. I?) which is Fig. 2; mounted at the upper end of a vert1 cally recip- 45 Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through rocable post the elevator not bemg seen m Fig. 1 since it is in raised position. v In Fig. 2, the the machme and loadmg table as viewed along loading table I3 is shown in its innermost posiline 44 of Fig. 3; while Fig- 5 is a diagram of the driving cams. ilzron opposite the art1cle platform of the elevator Wh le t e p o e s described d claimed The loading table is mounted for reciprocable h r in re o ener l application in the art of movement on a horizontally extending track in wrapping machinery, they are illustrated in conthe form of a bar I8 secured to the frame strucunction with a bread wrapping machine, and it ture I0 so as to extend transversely across the 58 is to be underStOOd that e e c e n t br ad machine and beyond the one side thereof, the

platform portion of the table I3 consisting of two spaced plates I3a and I3b mounted on the horizontal web I9 of a casting which is disposed on the underside of the table, the casting having a vertical web 28 on which are secured rollers 2I arranged to ride along the top and bottom portions of the track bar I8 (Figs. 3 and 4 particularly). The plates forming the platform or top of the loading table I3 are secured by any suitable means to the horizontal web I9 of the carriage or trolley casting, the web portion I9 of the latter having a transverse groove 22 formed therein (Fig. 4): which will be described hereafter in conjunction with the article ejecting or transfer means.

Thus, the table is arranged for reciprocable movement on the track I8 from a position outside of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, to a position substantially within the machine opposite the elevator I4. Mechanism for reciprocating the loading table will be described in conjunction with the driving means for the elevator.

Means for engaging an article to hold the same in a proper or predetermined position on the loading table includes the provision of parallel arms 25 (Figs. 1 and 2), each mounted on angle brackets 26.and 26a and threadably movable toward and away from each other on a reversely threaded spindle 21 mounted as at 28 at the back side of the top of the loading table and turned by means of an adjusting crank 29 to adjust the arms 25 to receive articles of different length.

The arms extend toward the receiving table I I, one of the arms 25 being yieldable to prevent injury to an article or loaf which may have been carelessly or improperly positioned on the loading table, one of the angle brackets or riders 26a being provided with a horizontal offset 30 on which an angle bracket 3| is pivoted as at 32 (Figs. 2 and 3) so that the arm 25' may pivot about the point 32 as a vertical axis from its normal position seen in Fig. 2, away from the companion arm 25, spring means 33 being arranged on a pintle 34 which extends through the riding bracket 26a and the pivoted bracket 3| to which the arm is attached so that the latter is urged normally toward its companion arm into the position seen in Fig. 2.

Article ejecting or transferring means for the loading table includes the provision of a slide bar 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) which has parallel grooves on its opposite sides slidably interfitting with ppo site edge portions 36 of the plates l3a and I3b which constitute the table or top portion I3 of the loading table. Thus, the slide bar is disposed for horizontally sliding movement across the top of the loading table toward the receiving table I I and elevator, this reciprocation being effected in timed relation to the movements of the elevator and the loading table by means hereinafter to be described. A pusher member 38 is secured to one end of the slide bar 35 by having a horizontal tongue 39 thereof spot-welded to the bar 35 with the adjoining portions of the pusher 38 disposed in a vertical plane beneath the guide arms 25. Thus, an article placed between the arms 25 against the pusher 38 when the latter is in its normal position, as viewed in Fig. 2, will be moved off of the loading table I3 toward and onto the elevator I4 when the slide bar 35 is shifted toward the left.

The power plant of the machine includes a motor 48 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is drivingly connected through a speed reducer M and a sprocket chain and gear drive 42-42 and a clutch 3 w h a main drive shaft 44 journaled in opposite sides of the frame I0.

Mounted on the shaft 44 (see also Fig. are a pair of driving cams.45 and 4B. A large bell crank 48 pivotally mounted as at 43 to float on a cross shaft 58 beneath the main drive shaft, has a rider 5| which works in the cam'track of cam 46, the opposite end of the crank being pivotally connected as at 52 with a link 53 drivingly connecting-the same with the lower portion of the elevator post I5 for reciprocation of the latter responsive to rotation of the cam 46.

Means for effecting reciprocation of the loading table I3 in timed relation with the movements of the elevator includes an. irregularly shaped crank lever 60 (Figs. 3 and 4) pivotally mounted as at BI on a transverse member of the frame structure and having its upper end portion 62 pivotally connected with one end of a driving arm 63 which is pivotally connected as at 64 at its opposite end with the vertical web 20 of the trolley or carriage casting. Thus, when the irregular crank 60 is rocked, the loading table is shifted back and forth on the track I8. Rocking of the lever 60 is accomplished through a connecting rod 65 pivotally connected as at 66 to the lower end of the crank 60 and as at B1 to a stud 88 on the elevator bell crank lever 48 so that the elevator and loading table are reciprocated in timed relation by the cam 46, which for convenience may be termed the elevator cam.

Means for actuating the ejecting mechanism or pusher 38 to remove an article from the loading table, includes a lever I0 (Figs. 3 and 4) pivotally mounted as at II at its lower end on a bracket 12 extended from the frame and having its upper end portion Illa disposed opposite the free end of the slide bar which is attached to the pusher 38. The lever I0 has an arm I3 attached to its lower end for pivotal movement therewith, and this arm is connected by a link 14 with a driving lever I5 which is keyed to the cross shaft 58. The cross shaft 50 is provided with a pair of transverse operating arms I8 (Figs. 1, 4, 5) keyed thereto for rocking movement therewith responsive to the rotation of the transfer cam 45, one of the arms 16' having a cam follower 11 which rides in the cam track of the cam 45 (see Fig. 5 particularly), it being recalled that the bell crank 48 floats on the shaft 50 and therefore is rocked independently of the rocking of the shaft 50 albeit in timed relation to the motion of the latter.

Thus, it will be observed in view of the diagram of Fig. 5 that each revolution of the main drive shaft 44 will effect a reciprocation of the transfer arm I8 which in turn-rocks the shaft 50 and effects a reciprocation of the ejector operating lever III, and, in addition, the bell crank 48 is independently rocked to effect a reciprocation of the elevator, the foregoing movements occurring in a certain timed relationship which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

It should be observed at this juncture that the driving connection between the lever I0 and the slide bar 35 for the ejector is impositive, with the result that when the lever 10 is moved in one direction (left, Fig. 3), the slide bar 35 will be moved correspondingly to eject an article from the table. However, the lever 10,,not being positively linked with the bar 35, the latter would not be restored. In order to restore the ejector or pusher 38 to normal position in accurately timed relation to the restoration of the loading table to normal receiving position (the lever III being Stationary relative to the movements of the distance toward and beneath the loading table when the latter is opposite the elevator, this cam plate having a slanted or cam edge 19 which is disposed to be engaged by a depending stud lid on the slide rod 35 when the latter is moved inwardly of the loading table. When the loading table is restored to initial position, the stud 19a bears against the cam edge 19 and shifts the slide rod 35 back to normal position (toward the right, Fig. 2), and the loading table is ready for another operation.

The loading means not only effects a-transfer of an article onto the elevator at a. proper instant of time in the wrapping cycle, but also elffects an initial wrapping of the transferred article, and this is accomplished in cooperation with automatic paper feed means which is more patricularly described in the copending application of Gellman and Petskeyes, Serial No. 258,672.

For present purposes, it is deemed sufiicient to explain that a web of paper or analogous wrapping material is fed from a supply roller (Fig. 1) over a feeding roller Bl periodically rotated through a special driving connection with one of the transfer arms 16' and which connection is not seen especially illustrated herein but which is described and claimed in the aforesaid copending application. The paper webbing is thus fed over the lower level M of the elevator l4 when the latter is in its raised position, and the free end of the web is automatically clamped on a holding table generally indicated at 82 in. Fig. 3

by a holding bail 83 which is actuated cooperatively with the elevator. Means (not shown in the present views) is also provided for severing the web to provide an opposite free end portion which is moveddownwardly with the elevator so that the sheet of wrapping material is suspended from its upper end in a substantially vertical plane, as indicated at 84 in Fig. 3, so as to lie across the path of an article moving from the loading table l3 onto the upper level of the elevator M.

A pair of initial wrappingand holding arms 85 is arranged to move up and down with the elevator in a position opposite the ends of the article or loaf, each of the arms 85 being attached to a vertically reciprocable slide rod 85 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) mounted in sleeves, the lower end of eachof the slide bars 86 resting on the top of the elevator in appropriate positions for the purpose aforesaid.

The operation of the clutch means 43 is such that for every actuation thereof by means of a control handle 8'! on the side of the frame (Fig. l), the main drive shaft 44 will be rotated through one cycle or revolution, and the clutch will thereafter throw out automatically. Each revolution of the drive shaft 44 corresponds to a complete wrapping cycle-or operation, and the various mechanisms are arranged to come to rest at the termination of each wrapping cycle with the loading table l3 positioned outwardly of the machine and opposite the receiving table I I, the elevator at this time being in raised position.

In wrapping operation, the attendant places an article such as a loaf of bread on the receiving table I l and guides the same in between the arms 25 on the loading table, any irregularity in the manipulation or size of the loaf (notwithstanding previous adjustment of arms 25 by crank 29) being relieved by the yieldable mounting "-38 of the arm 25'. With the loaf thus positioned, the control handle 81 is raised and the elevator will descend to lowered position in timed relation with the inward movement of the loading table until the latter is positioned opposite the elevator as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the elevator meanwhile having draped the wrapping paper 8| into position between the same and the loading table. Thereafter the pusher 38 is'ac tuated through movement of the lever arm 10 to urge the loaf L toward the elevator and against the hanging wrapper 84, the loaf and wrapper being urged in between the arms 85 on the elevator with the result that initial end folds are effected through the agency of the arms 85, and in addition the wrapper is folded over one side and a substantial portion of the top of the loaf with the lowermost end of the wrapper beneath the loaf. At this time the'elevator starts upward and there is a further folding of the wrapper around the top and the remaining side due to the fact that the upper end of the wrapper is held between the bail 83 and the table 82 (Fig. 3).

By.the time the elevator or article carrying member has reached its fully raised position, coacting mechanism (not shown herein, but described and claimed in the copending application of Petskeyes and Gellman, Serial No. 258,675) effects a release of the anchored wrapper, and transfer arms designated at 90 in Fig. 1 and sliding on rails 9|, are moved against the elevated loaf by connecting rods 92 attached to the transfer levers 76 and 16 the loaf from the elevator and urging the same into a terminal wrapping means consisting of parallel end folding plates 93 and heating means parent that the loading means I 3-38 is an effectivemechanism for coaction with an article carrier such as the elevator M for loading articles onto the latter in timed relation to the movements thereof, alone or in conjunction with other coacting instrumentalities.

Moreover, the loading mechanism l3-38 coacting with the folding arms 85, alone or in conjunction with an article carrier such as the ele vator l8, provides an eifective initial wrapping means. There are thus two aspects of utility characterizing the invention.

The objects and advantages of the invention in its various aspects may be realized by other forms of construction, arrangement and mode of operation of parts, than are described specifically herein for purposes of illustration, and the invention is therefore not to be limited to the precise form of the preferred embodiment except as may be provided in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: g

1. In a wrapping machine ofthe type including a reciprocable article carrier and drive means therefor, loading mechanism including a table arranged for reciprocation toward and away from said carrier in a particular reciprocal position, and means for engaging and moving an article on said table toward and onto said carrier when the latter is in said particular position, together with for the purpose of removing 7 mechanism for reciprocating said table and actuating said article moving means in timed relation to the movement of said article carrier to effect transfer of articles from the table onto the carrier in the manner aforesaid.

2. In a wrapping machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable elevator, loading means including a-substantially horizontally reciprocable loading table, ejecting means arranged for movement from a normal position to engage an article on said table and move the same in a direction off of the table toward said elevator, and drive mechanism coacting with said elevator, said loading table, and said ejecting means to effect movement of the loading table into position opposite said elevator when the latter is in substantially lowered position and subsequent actuation of said ejecting means, whereby to move an article from said table onto the elevator.

3. In a wrapping machine of the type having an article carrier arranged for reciprocation to effect wrapping operations on an article carried thereby, loading mechanism comprising a second article carrier arranged for back and forth movement toward and away from said first-mentionad article carrier when the latter is in a particular position, article ejecting means arranged for movement relative to an article on said second carrier to move said article off of said second carrier in a direction onto said first-mentioned carrier, and drive mechanism arranged for coaction with said carriers and said ejecting means to effect movement of said second-mentioned carrier into position opposite said first-mentioned carrier when the latter is in said particular position and further to effect actuation of said ejecting means to move an article from said second carrier onto said first carrier.

4. In a wrapping machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable elevator arranged for coaction in timed relation ,with wrapping instrumentalities to eifect wrapping operations on an article carried by said elevator, loading means including a horizontally reciprocable loading table arranged for movement from a normal position into advanced position opposite the lowered position of said elevator, reciprocable article ejecting means on said loading table arranged for movement from a normal position to engage an article on said table and move the same toward and onto said elevator when said table is in advanced position, and drive means coacting with said wrapping instrumentalities, said elevator, said loading table, and said ejecting means for actuating the same in timed relation to effect movement of the loading table from normal position to advanced position opposite the lowered elevator and actuation of said ejecting means to eject an article from said table onto said elevator.

5. In a wrapping machineof the type having a vertically reciprocable wrapping elevator, a receiving table mounted in spaced relation to said elevator in a lowered position ofthe latter, a loading table mounted for reciprocation from a normal position alongside said receiving table to an advanced position alongside said elevator in the lowered position of the latter, ejecting means arranged for movement to engage an article on said loading table and move said article onto said elevator when the loading table is alongside the elevator, and drive mechanism arranged to effect reciprocation of said elevator and said loading table and actuation of said ejecting means in timed relation whereby said loading table will be moved from normal position alongside the receiving table into advanced position alongside the elevator and said ejecting means will be actuated to eject an article from the loading table onto the elevator.

.6. In a wrapping machine of the type having a reciprocable article carrier arranged to effect wrapping operations on an article carried thereby in conjunction with other wrapping instrumentalities of the machine, automatic loading mechanism comprising: a loading carrier arranged for movement back and forth from a normal position to a position of alignment alongside said first-mentioned carrier when the latter v is in a particular one of its reciprocal positions, and transfer means including a pusher arranged for reciprocation on said second-mentioned carrier to engage an article carried by the latter and move said article in a directio off of the second carrier onto the first carrier when the carriers are in aligned position as aforesaid, and drive means operably associating said carriers and arranged to effect reciprocation of said transfer means in timed relation whereby an article carried by said second carrier will be transferred onto said first carrier when the carriers are aligned in the manner aforesaid.

'7. In a broad wrapping machine of the type having a vertically reciprocable elevator arranged for coaction in timed relation with associated wrapping instrumentalities, initial wrapping mechanism comprising a loading table arranged for horizontal reciprocation toward and away from a position of alignment opposite the elevator in a lowered position, a pusher arranged for reciprocation across said loading table to engage an article thereon and move the same off of the loading table onto the elevator when the table and elevator are aligned, means for positioning a wrapper across the path of an article moved from said table onto the elevator, and drive mechanism arranged to actuate said elevator, said table, said pusher, and said wrapper positioning means in timed relation whereby an article deposited on said loading table prior to movement of the latter into alignment with the elevator will be automatically moved off of the loading table into said wrapper and onto the elevator, and wrapping means coacting with said elevator to fold portions of said wrapper on said article.

8. In a bread wrapping machine of the type including a vertically reciprocable wrapping elevator arranged for timed coaction with paper feeding means adapted to suspend a wrapper at one side of the elevator during each cycle of movement thereof, a combination loading and initial wrapping mechanism comprising: a loading table mounted for horizontal reciprocation from a normal loaf-receiving position to aligned position alongside said elevator at a lower station of the latter, pusher means mounted for reciprocable movement from a normal position at one side of said table across the 'latter toward a wrapper suspended as aforesaid and said elevator to move an article from the table into the wrapper and onto the elevator, fold means on said elevator into which said article and wrapper are moved by said pusher means, and drive mechanism drivingly connected with said elevator, said paper feeding means, said loading table, and said pusher means whereby the loading table will be moved intoalignment with the elevator in lowered position and said pusher means will be subsequently actuated to move an article into said wrapper and said wrapping means on the elevator to efiect initial wrapping of the article prior to movement of the elevator away from lowered position for additional wrapping movement of said articles.

9. ma device of the class described, loading means for coaction with a reciprocal article carrier, said means including a table arranged for reciprocation into and out of a position of alignment opposite said carrier when the latter is in a particular position, and transfer means arranged for movement in a direction across said table to engage an article thereon and move said article from the table in its position of alignment onto said carrier, together with driving mechanism drivingly connected with said carrier, said table, and said transfer means for reciprocating said carrier, moving said table into aligned position, and actuating. said transfer means in the manner aforesaid.

10. In a device of the class described, article loading means for cooperation with a vertically reciprocable elevator, said loading means including a loading member arranged for movement back and forth in a horizontal direction into and out of a position of alignment opposite the elevator in its lowered position, pusher means mounted for movement with said loading member and arranged for movement from a normal position across said loading member to engage an article thereon and push said article from the loading member onto said elevator, drive mechanism operatively connected with said elevator and said loading member to move the same in timed relation into and out of aligned position, means coacting with said drive mechanism for operatively engaging said pusher means and moving the same out of normal position across said loading member to transfer an article as aforesaid substantially subsequent to the time said loading member is aligned with the elevator, and means for restoring said pusher means to normal position and including a stationary cam member positioned to be engaged by means cooperable with saidpusher means to move the latter back to said normal position responsive to movement of said loading member out of aligned position relative to the elevator.

11. In a device of the class described, loading a vertically reciproeans for cooperation with cable elevator, said means including a horizontally reciprocable table movable into and out of aligned position alongside said elevator in a particular position of the latter, pusher means on said table arranged for movement from a normal position to engage an article on the table and move said article onto the elevator when the table is in aligned position, and article holding means on said table and including spaced members one ofwhich is arranged for movement toward and away from the other and provided with spring means normally urging the same toward said other spaced member, and drive mechanism operatively connected with said elevator, said table, and said pusher means to actuate the same in timed relation whereby an article positioned on the tableprior to movement of the same into aligned position will be urged by said pusher means on to the elevator.

12. In a device of the class described, initial loading and ppin mean-s for cooperation with a vertically reciprocable wrapping elevator, said mechanism comprising: means cooperable with said elevator for positioning a wrapper in a substantially vertical plane alongside said elevator when the latter is in substantially lowered position, a loading table arranged for reciprocable movement into and out of aligned position alongside said elevator opposite said wrapper at the lowered position of the elevator, and transfer means including a transfer member arranged for actuation to engage and move an article into said wrapper from said table in aligned position and onto said elevator, spaced folding means arranged for movement with said elevator on the latter and between which an article and said wrapper are pressed by said transfer means, together with drive mechanism arranged to drive said elevator, said table, and said transfer means for eifecting movement of the transfer means at a time when said table is moved into alignment with the elevator, said drive means further being arranged to actuate said wrapper positioning means to efl'ect positioning of a wrapper as aforesaid for use when the elevator is in lowered position.

CHARLES H. PETSKEYES. ISRAEL 0. GELIMAN. 

